# Beams

## Bar entry

Input via the functions 'Bar along X', 'Bar along Y', 'Bar angle' and 'Bar 2 points'. In all functions the input options are largely the same. The only difference is that in some cases the angle is fixed in order to enable a quick input typical for the component. Thus the component 'Bar along X' is always horizontal, while the 'Bar along Y' is automatically vertical.

The following can be set in the dialog box:

With the selection list at the top of the dialog box you can choose existing settings. Using the disk icon you can save the current setting under the same name or a new name. Via the management icon you can create new settings, also by adopting existing settings, or modify or delete existing settings. See 'Save settings' in the 'General Help' manual.

**Ident number**: The identification number for the component can be entered here or selected from the component catalog using the browser. Further meaning according to the chapter 'Volume information, component catalog'.

**Post type**: The 'Bar type' represents a list of designations that can be used to label the components. Here you can either enter a bar type number you already know, or select a bar type number via the browser button at the right end of the field. Once you have selected a number here, the corresponding designation is automatically displayed in the next field.

**Designation**: The designation allows you to describe the function of an individual component, e.g. stitch beam, secondary beam, etc. The predefined designations, the so-called bar types, can be called up via a number key in the field to the left of the designation. Once this has been done, a designation is automatically provided in the 'Designation' field. However, this can be changed manually so that any custom designations may be used.

> If you require a specific designation more frequently, you can enter it via the browser button to the right of the designation field. This icon opens a list of existing designations. You can enter your own designation at the end of the list. On the next call of the list the new designation will then be sorted alphabetically. As soon as you start typing the designation in the 'Designation' field, the list opens automatically and shows only the designations that begin with the entered letters.

**Length, width, height**: The dimensions can also be pre-specified here if they should not be queried later.

**Angle**: If the component is not aligned via 2 points, an angle can be specified. For some components, e.g. Bar along X or Bar along Y, the angle is already fixed (0°, 90°).\
The angle is measured from the X-axis of the slab, counterclockwise to the axis of the bar.

**Rotate cross-section**: With this setting the cross-section is rotated around the axis of the bar. Rotation is possible in 90° increments.

**Position**: This sets which position the depth position refers to. To place a component centered in position 1, it is not necessary to calculate a depth position referring to the entire slab. Only position 1 is determined and set to centered in the depth position.

> The position chosen here also simultaneously determines the 'group' to which the component is assigned. Thus a beam entered in position 0 automatically belongs to group 0. Via the groups (function 'File -- Settings -- Display') components can be turned on and off.

**Depth position**: For the depth position we always refer to the position in which the component lies. There are the automatic functions centered, flush front and flush back, which conveniently place the component at the correct depth. For special cases you can also specify a defined distance from the front of the position (visible side) to the front of the bar.

**Positioning point**: As positioning points, 6 different points on the post view and the functions 'Clear distance' or 'Choice' can be selected. With 'Clear distance' the clear distance of the post to a reference point is always considered. If the post is entered via two points, this clear distance at the start and end can lie on two different sides.\
With the 'Choice' function the post is first placed with the last used positioning point and then you can cycle through the 6 positioning points with the right mouse button. The desired position is selected with the left mouse button.

**Connect**: Here settings for automatic connection can be made. If the new post ends at another post, the 'Connection start' or 'Connection end' is used. When connecting, the first two options consider both posts and plates as connection partners, while the third and fourth options consider only posts as connection partners.

> **All**: Without further query each new bar will be extended to and connected at the next bar, the next slab or slab boundary.
>
> **Individual**: For each post it is queried at each end whether it should be connected. Accept with left mouse, reject with right mouse.
>
> **All to posts**: Without further query each new bar will be extended to and connected at the next bar or to the slab boundary. Slabs are ignored with this option.
>
> **Individual**: For each post it is queried at each end whether it should be connected. Accept with left mouse, reject with right mouse. Plates are ignored with this option.
>
> **None**: The post is not connected and is automatically extended. This setting is correct when the posts should retain the specified length.

**Generate band**: If a post is to be connected, it can also be extended over several other posts or openings and connected to all posts. We call this function 'Generate band'.

> **All**: A band is generated without further query.
>
> **Individual**: After entering a post you are asked whether a band should be generated for it.
>
> **None**: No band is generated; always only a single post is created.
>
> **Each part**: A band produces several parts. With this setting each new field prompts whether it should be generated.

**Connection start, - end**: Separately for the start and the end of the post the connection processing can be defined. The parameters of the chosen connection processing can be inspected and changed via the browser button to the right of the field.

Two positioning functions are offered in the dialog boxes: 'Single' and 'Distribute'.

### **Individual**

With the 'Single' function individual posts are placed each time via the selected positioning point. Several posts can be entered consecutively until the function is terminated with right mouse click.

### **Distribute**

In the 'Distribute' function the start line is specified first. The starting points of the posts that are newly generated during distribution lie on this start line. Since the direction of the new posts is already fixed by the chosen post type (e.g. post) (posts are always vertical), the start line can only be moved in one direction.

Subsequently two points are selected between which the new posts are to be distributed. The division length between these points is measured perpendicular to the direction of the new posts; the points therefore do not have to lie on a single line. Then the dialog box for entering the distribution appears.

### **Distribution of posts**

After the direction of the new posts and the area to be divided have been specified (see above), the criteria for the distribution can be entered:

The determined division length is displayed. One can choose between clear distances and axis distances. By entering a 'Start distance' or 'End distance' an additional bar is positioned at the beginning or end of the distribution. This reduces the remaining field available for the distribution. The remaining field is also displayed. If a value is entered for 'Fixed bundle dimension', a fixed bundle dimension is used and the distribution of the remainder must be entered. If the 'Fixed bundle dimension' field is left empty, the input automatically jumps to 'Free bundle dimension' and the desired distribution can be determined there by reciprocal recalculation of the free bundle dimension and the number.

Example:

A field is to receive exactly two new beams (=3 fields); all spacings are to be exactly equal.

* 'Center-to-center / Clear': Setting does not matter
* 'Start distance' and 'End distance' remain empty;
* 'Fixed bundle size' remains empty
* Remainder: Divide
* 'Free bundle size' remains empty
* 'Posts in remaining field' enter number 2 (after confirmation the corresponding distance is displayed)

## Components - Delete

With this function only bars are deleted; slabs are ignored.
